A fresh controversy has erupted in India after White House trade advisor Peter Navarro described Indian refiners as “Brahmins profiteering” from Russian oil, while defending Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports. The remark, made in the context of New Delhi’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude, has drawn sharp criticism across the political spectrum, with many calling it casteist, offensive, and a deliberate attempt to malign India.

Navarro alleged that Indian companies were acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin” by buying cheap oil, refining it, and selling at a premium. “You got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people,” he said, sparking outrage in New Delhi. Critics argued the use of “Brahmin” in reference to India was not accidental but a targeted slur.

Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, said Navarro’s phrasing echoed colonial-era prejudices. “This is derived directly from 19th century jibes like those of James Mill. Edward Said’s Orientalism is even more applicable to India,” he noted.

Opposition leaders also weighed in. Congress’ Pawan Khera dismissed the remark as “baseless and unacceptable,” while Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned it as “sinister,” pointing out that even if “Brahmin” in American usage once meant wealthy elites, its invocation in an Indian context was deliberate.

Trinamool MP Sagarika Ghose, however, explained that “Boston Brahmin” historically referred to New England elites, and the word is still used in English to denote social or economic elites. Yet her attempt at contextualization invited criticism, with many insisting Navarro’s phrasing could not be excused as innocent.

The controversy comes amid already tense India-US relations over tariffs and energy trade. Navarro’s words, coupled with Washington’s accusations of India undermining global stability, underline the deepening rift—especially as Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed ties with Russia and China at the SCO summit in Tianjin.

A fresh controversy has erupted in India after White House trade advisor Peter Navarro described Indian refiners as “Brahmins profiteering” from Russian oil, while defending Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports. The remark, made in the context of New Delhi’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude, has drawn sharp criticism across the political spectrum, with many calling it casteist, offensive, and a deliberate attempt to malign India.

Navarro alleged that Indian companies were acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin” by buying cheap oil, refining it, and selling at a premium. “You got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people,” he said, sparking outrage in New Delhi. Critics argued the use of “Brahmin” in reference to India was not accidental but a targeted slur.

Sanjeev Sanyal, member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, said Navarro’s phrasing echoed colonial-era prejudices. “This is derived directly from 19th century jibes like those of James Mill. Edward Said’s Orientalism is even more applicable to India,” he noted.

Opposition leaders also weighed in. Congress’ Pawan Khera dismissed the remark as “baseless and unacceptable,” while Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned it as “sinister,” pointing out that even if “Brahmin” in American usage once meant wealthy elites, its invocation in an Indian context was deliberate.

Trinamool MP Sagarika Ghose, however, explained that “Boston Brahmin” historically referred to New England elites, and the word is still used in English to denote social or economic elites. Yet her attempt at contextualization invited criticism, with many insisting Navarro’s phrasing could not be excused as innocent.

The controversy comes amid already tense India-US relations over tariffs and energy trade. Navarro’s words, coupled with Washington’s accusations of India undermining global stability, underline the deepening rift—especially as Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed ties with Russia and China at the SCO summit in Tianjin.